Creatives experience a mid-life crisis every five years, says Katie Cadwell

In the Creative Career Conundrums column by If You Could Jobs, Katie Cadwell, co-founder of The NDA Podcast and branding studio Lucky Dip, provides insights for a creative approaching 30 who feels disheartened by layoffs, toxic workplaces, and job transitions. Cadwell highlights that creatives often experience a mid-life crisis every five years due to their empathetic tendencies, which can result in burnout. She reassures that it’s acceptable to not be passionately in love with one’s job; instead, she encourages focusing on activities outside the 9-6 and taking the paycheck while recuperating. For rekindling creativity, she recommends pursuing personal side projects without clients or budgets. Freelancing is suggested as a way to avoid studio politics and concentrate on the craft, though it may not suit everyone. Cadwell stresses the importance of taking breaks, as many creatives contemplate leaving for less demanding roles. This column is part of a weekly series by If You Could Jobs, the job board affiliated with It's Nice That.